4.3: Darkmoon Faire Preview Guide

The new Darkmoon Faire hit the PTR this morning and we couldn't wait to finally experience it after seeing all the teaser datamined items over the past few months! It's filled with quirky details, fun games, and lots of vanity items for all tastes. The Faire has been radically revamped, with new achievements, games, rewards, and currencies. We've covered it all in the guide below with numerous screenshots organized by attraction.

Highlights include:

The replica Dungeon Tier items we found several weeks ago made it to the PTR! This means you can transmogrify your armor into Dungeon Set 0 and .5 tier from vanilla (and without class restrictions too!). These sets had been removed in Cataclysm and were currently unobtainable on live.

Numerous new mounts and pets to purchase.

A large-scale PvP arena bloodbath.

New quests associated with mini-games as well as professions: this will grant Darkmoon Prize Ticket which can be used to purchase vanity items and transmogrification gear.

A petting zoo!

General Information

Faire Layout

Upon reaching the Faire, players will notice it's certainly a lot more extensive than the current version. Stroll down the main avenue to see familiar attractions mixed in with new quests and games. We've organized the attractions from front to back, as if you were entering the Faire and strolling completely through to the Boardwalk.

Getting to the Faire

Talk to NPCs in capital cities to be ported to the Faire's old location. (This month, it was Goldshire.) Step through the portal to be taken to the completely new island and ride a bit through the woods before discovering the Faire at the bottom of the hill.

Information Booths

NPCs by both the portal and the entrance to the Faire provide players with detailed information on the new changes to the Faire. Click on the screenshots to expand and read more information!

Games

To play these games, you'll need to get Darkmoon Game Token, found in Sack o' Tokens and Pouch o' Tokens purchased from Game Vendors located around the Faire. We've included screenshots of all the game instructions--click them to view larger.

Shooting Arcade

The Strongest Woman Alive

Tonk Challenge

Whack-A-Mole

Other Attractions

Cafes

Aimee of dessert fame, Asric, and Jadaar are back! They're hanging out at the food court.

Dancing Bear

Dance with the bear to get him to dance back!

Deathmatch Pavilion

Korgol Crushskull <The Pit Master> presides over this large-scale arena event. Players compete to loot a spawned chest and eventually complete a trinket. So far on the PTR, it was a bit of a free-for-all bloodbath.

Heirlooms & Replica Armor Prizes

It's obvious that this area was the most crowded on the PTR. Besides Daenrand Dawncest, an heirloom vendor, the main attraction was Barum and Baruma, who sold BoE replicas of removed vanilla dungeon gear! The replica dungeon gear costs 55 or 75 Darkmoon Prize Ticket, depending on the item.

Comments

Comment by lonewarrior

on 2011/11/07 10:52:58

Indeed, looks like a welcome update to the game. I never got into it very much before...but this does look inviting so see ya there :) Yes keep it to just the first week of every month. Keeps it fresh.

Comment by RegiRuler

on 2011/11/07 12:34:35

Aye, it most probably will. Too bad - I was hoping for one last long-ass grind, but knowing Blizzard, I should have known that would not be the case.

They'll probably add in some other rep.

How about neutral with the syndicate?

Comment by Darkmood123

on 2011/11/07 14:10:07

Dunhill

people gathering to hear that is no better than people gathering to watch the chucky cheese animatronic 'band' play

Way to bash others taste in music...

Definitely looking forward to 4.3.

Comment by TehStabyNarwhal

on 2011/11/07 17:13:57

any information on whether darkmoon faire will still be part of the insane now? Whether it is or not I can't wait to get that pit master trinket and walk around in org with it.

Comment by Suggestions

on 2011/11/07 18:11:25

Where's Flik? I'm concerned about his frogs.

Survived the move, running around the new faire grounds selling the same items.

Comment by Linkno1

on 2011/11/07 23:10:13

I like that this gives players a different method of obtaining heirlooms, myself. Sure, they'll cost quite a few tickets, but it's certainly something I'm interested in given that (to me) PvP isn't as much fun plus trying to get enough from dungeons seems to be a little difficult considering that randoms can be...well... random. XD

Justice looms are not hard to get at all, especially with a character geared higher than the randoms with what I can tell, at least 500+ Justice points per run in a heroic depending in how many bosses.

OT.

I seriously can't wait for this. I think I have found the new event to look forward to since Hallows End has become an utter dissapointment,

Hell...Sending my computer in for repairs since the screen has lines on it....hearing the patch may be out Dec 4th makes me wanna live with it to see new Darkmoon on live servers for the first time :D

Comment by Arn1x

on 2011/11/08 05:36:40

So I can "grind" tickets on all my characters to buy all the heirlooms and gear up one alt?For example, I could get one heirloom per week, but with more of my characters i could get them all in one week?

Comment by Soldrethar

on 2011/11/08 06:16:31

Dam....this looks so awesome :D

Comment by Wirxaw

on 2011/11/08 07:25:00

The Eye is watching you!I think I know who Silas contracted to get this island....

P.S.: So this new way of getting looms is same redundant Tournament style, where all sane players spend their tokens for actual items, having grinded JP for months already.

Comment by msdwallace

on 2011/11/08 12:15:50

WHOOOOO PONY RIDES AND A PETTING ZOO! so excited!

Comment by KingdomKnight

on 2011/11/08 12:23:12

Ugh, I just know the Seahorse will take forever. The only question I really have is; Will we be ported out after the Fair is over or will we be able to stay to do the Dailies and stuff for rep? This is the last rep I need for the Insane title.

Edit: Thanks for this btw. 900 tickets for every pet and mount.. /facepalm

Comment by Adamsm

on 2011/11/08 12:24:43

The only question I really have is; Will we be ported out after the Fair is over or will we be able to stay to do the Dailies and stuff for rep? This is the last rep I need for the Insane title.

Probably ported out.

Comment by monkiy

on 2011/11/08 12:37:56

Hope the replica dungeon tier sets are tied into reputation standing in the same way that other faction quartermasters' gear is... would be a cool way to keep it more exclusive, and reward those that already have insane.

Getting the 'Insane in the Membrane' achievement is supposed to be it's own reward. There is no need to reward it in any other way. They also want transmog to be available to everyone; gaining the tickets for an entire set alone is already going to be enough of a grind.

Comment by trest

on 2011/11/08 12:42:29

I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but is there any impact on Darkmoon cards other than the turn-in NPC moving to this new zone?

Comment by Adamsm

on 2011/11/08 12:43:40

I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but is there any impact on Darkmoon cards other than the turn-in NPC moving to this new zone?

Doesn't seem like it.

Comment by Calayna

on 2011/11/08 15:00:20

I'm excited for having a chance to get my mage sets without having to grind dungeons/raids! So I'll just have to grind dailies here >_>

Well....I grinded Argent Tourny for forever for all the mounts and then out of habit ("but but I ALWAYS do my AT Dailies! You mean I need to do Fireland dailies!" was me a while back) I'm sure I'll live through these dailies.

Comment by Baloo

on 2011/11/08 15:45:54

Will be some fun. But i can't feel that it's awfully similar to another MMO's Carnival Island. Won't name that MMo but it seems like copied a bit.

Comment by Adamsm

on 2011/11/08 15:54:50

Will be some fun. But i can't feel that it's awfully similar to another MMO's Carnival Island. Won't name that MMo but it seems like copied a bit.

And I'm sure that other MMO copied it from something else.....

Comment by Baloo

on 2011/11/08 16:30:13

Probably. But that doesn't make it right. :)

Comment by Adamsm

on 2011/11/08 16:32:46

If it was a complete rip off then sure....but since it's just a carnival and still has all of the WoW based characters that has been in the game since the Darkmoon Faire was released well....